Here's a good one.....what makes you play tennis??

For me,
1. For the exercise.
2. Just to see how good i can be and the endless journey of trying to improve in every aspect of the game.
3. The problem solving part on how to beat an opponent.
4. The challenge of trying to stay relax while playing knowing that the more relax you are the better you will play.
5. Trying to dress nice for the court, what with all the fashion statement we see on the professional tour now.

I don't play tennis.I'm a tennis player.I do it cuz it makes me feel good(physically,mentally,emotionally).The feeling of winning is unqiue,the man vs. man(or woman),figuring out how to win and how good I can be and of couse the women.I get enough physical activity with running,swimming,snowboarding,biking,gymming,etc, but the conditioning of tennis is a plus for me.The fashion is secondary (becuase sometime I play with no shirt or totally mix and matched clothes)as well as staying relaxed.

1) To play well it takes more skill than many other sports I've tried.

2) Your physical gifts can help you win (speed, strength, stamina)

3) Break points, game points, ad points and tie-breaks can happen quite often so the constant mental battle is a challenge.

4) I can and have been beaten by weaker, slower doubles players because they have more skill. My physical advantages on those occassions didn't matter. I like the fact that in tennis a weaker slower doubles pair can still easily beat a stronger fitter pairing.

Besides the health and social benefits, I like the high individual authority and responsibility of amateur tennis, it's even higher than pro tennis. I like the similarities it has to boxing and baseball, too. The mental and emotional aspects of competing. And all the choices to make, strings, racquets, style of play...okay, okay, I like the women who play.

I'm with Hawaii 5.0 difference between being a tennis player and playing tennis. I also like what tennis reveals about the player. If you are a cheating chiseler who will do anything to win it will be apparent within one set. If you are a person of integrity who respects the game and the rules that will be apparent quickly as well. While I enjoy the exercise, the feeling after a well playe victory or loss where you did your best is tops. That is why I am a tennis player.

Growing up, I never played tennis. I was a 3 letter athlete in high school and played baseball in college. I didn't start playing until I started dating this one woman (who is now my wife). I can remember our 3rd date. She asks me to play tennis....It was a beautiful day outside. I'm looking at all 5'3, 105 lbs of her thinking to myself "this isn't going to be fair...I'm a 6'2 210 pound college level athlete! I will pummel this adorable little woman"

What transpired over the next hour and a half was probably one of the worst beatings ever on a tennis court. Plain and simple, I got drubbed. It was actually more like she would hit a shot, I would blast it out of the court and we'd have to start over.....

What drew me to the game, aside from my wife was the fact that Tennis is a difficult sport to play well. The pros make it look so easy. I also loved the challenge of trying to learn a sport as an adult, that I didn't play as a kid.

Ditto with 5.0. I enjoy every aspect of the game (tweaking racquets, stringing, ect) , and love to compete against good players win or lose. Along with hitting the weights, volleyball, running, what really helps my game was martial arts. Not just physically but more body/mind self-awareness and control, ability to put all energy into the ball. Miss playing in high school and college because for five or six months straight it was practice and meets all the time! Love watching Federer because he makes me wanna play even more. :shock:

:wink: I have played in Sorrento Italy vs. the #1 jr in that Federation then the local dentist wanted to play me. a yr earlier I got to play against the #1 jr on the Big Island, then a touring pro in Phoenix etc. I love the competion and the guessing game of what the tennis gods will throw my way. One of my greatest experiences was staying in Sorrento, ITALY going to Capri in the morning, Pompeii in the afternoon /evening then jogging to the clay ct. under a full moon to play a local who clocked me but after I was smiling drinking a Nasstro Auzzuro thinking how much I love this sport and the places I can play.

I play because I still can. I played many sports thru college. Made the tennis team in college, but decided to play a sport called ultimate (which is an intense physically demanding game played with a fresbe. I am too old and slow to keep playing that game. Can't play football any more, baseball and softball are boring and slow to play, golf #$%% unless you are making a big buisness deal. Left with tennis and fresbe golf. With a little hackysack inbetween.

For me, playing tennis is a lot more fun than playing golf. Individual competition, vigorous exercise, something you can play until you're old, and it's just fun. I like to try to parallel what happens in my matches with what I see on TV. I also enjoy beating people with names like Chad Dimple.

A candy colored clown they call the sandman
Tiptoes to my room everynight
Just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper
Go to sleep, everything is alright
I close my eyes then I drift away
Into the magic night I softly say
A silent prayer like dreamers do
Then I fall asleep to dream
My dreams of you, a perfect stroke, effortless

I play tennis because of the poetry the game represents for myself and those like me. My earings shine brightly in the warm sun. I also like the feeling of my totally shaven body in flight as I rip groundstrokes in to the corners and lunge at service returns.

I love the art of each player. However, you must also have a respect for mechanics as well. When you combine the art and mechanics you create your own style, and you have something unique to offer. It gives you a personality with which to play the game. I enjoy having this and the athleticism tennis requires. It is not a brutal sport like football, nor a thinking sport like golf. You must have the talent of an all-around to do well on the court.